The Overfinch Discovery legend is true

The Overfinch Discovery legend is true

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Discussion

DKL

4,480 posts

221 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
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DonkeyApple said:
I don't know what manual box Overfinch used but the pedal in Damon's Discovery was bloody awful.
It's a bit firm isn't it! Didn't go badly for a big bugger and the suspension was quite respectable as I recall, I had a play too a few months ago.

DonkeyApple

54,921 posts

168 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
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DKL said:
It's a bit firm isn't it! Didn't go badly for a big bugger and the suspension was quite respectable as I recall, I had a play too a few months ago.
I just sat in it but that clutch in a typical Sunday evening queue on the M40 would burst my knee.

Years ago I ripped my knee up in a tragic motorsport accident (rolled a sit on lawn mower at my Grandad's when we were having a race and with my foot stuck in the blades my leg was a little twisted biggrin). For about 6 months I mastered the art of the clutch less gear change and having to push my leg down on the pedal with my hand, then selecting the gear.

A few miles in that car and I'd be finished.

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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DonkeyApple said:
vjj said:
That makes three then -

1. Mine - in Jewish Racing Gold
2. The red one mentioned above
3. the pale blue one for sale on Ebay with the manual gearbox.

I also know of a silver one that was only a 300 tdi but had all the overfinch bits(rack, suspension etc) but that died a few years ago.

That's it for mk 1's.

I know of one black Discovery 2 that was built with a 5.7 with chevy's own Tuned Port Injection.

Any more for any more?
Damon has one in silver.

Couldn't find the one on EBay?
The ebay one is Damon's one - on ebay classics.'Silver/Blue'

The manual box is a standard Land rover box - LT85 I believe - famed for it's 'agricultural' nature.

He should swap it for an auto but I think he has already spend more than he is asking fror the car in restoration so I can understand his reluctance.

Very sorry to hear about your knee - having played rugby in the front row for over 20 years I am an expert on dodgy joints and backs............................you must have an auto in your 2-door.








Edited by vjj on Thursday 4th October 07:32

Jam Spavlin

909 posts

184 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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The jap disco looks a peach me want!

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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Jam Spavlin said:
The jap disco looks a peach me want!
It will be for sale in february when my project is complete - it is in fabulous condition and drives really well.



C Lee Farquar

4,066 posts

215 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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There was a red one for sale on ebay @ 7 or 8 years ago. This may be the same one E-B drove, although it wasn't near Tingewick, I would have remembered as that's just down the road from me. I seem to remember it had a rather unusual/acquired taste steering wheel or dash.

E-B

394 posts

177 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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Not too sure about the steering wheel, wooden comes to mind but i've been racking my brain trying to remember the guy who owned it's name. He lived off the Bletchley Rd and used to race caterhams and instruct at Silverstone.

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Wednesday 12th December 2012
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Hi Guys

here is an update for those of you who followed this thread.

The 2nd-last Genuine Overfinch Disco is no more - that means Damon Orloff has the last one known about.

I got the car running fantastically well with the 383 stroker and Ashcroft Stage 2 Auto with huge torque convertor. A new transfer box is on its way.

The disco body has been lifted off the chassis and now all the running gear will be overhauled/replaced and transfered across to the new Galvanised chassis for the superdefender.

The car will have a full 50th rollcage assembly and be returned to a station wagon in Keswick green with a puma steel bonnet. I will be retaining the 90 dash, but putting in an XS interior with factory rear forward-facing seats and wheelarches, a Predator switch pod, 50th Anniversart auto console etc etc.

I already have fantastic brakes on the defender(it had a TVR motor before) so between the two cars and a couple of grands worth of new parts I should have quite a machine

I now have pretty much everything to complete the work over the next 2 months

Couple of photos below - mechanic Derek decided to give the Overfinch Disco Chassis one last speed trial around the workshop before strip-down







I know it seems a shame to scrap such a potentially nice vehicle. - the body and chassis were both salveagable but by the time you add 5k for a full respray,3k for a complete new interior and also needing a complete re-wire, suspension and brake overhaul etc, it gets uncomfortable - would be different if it was a soft-dash Classic RR.

Edited by vjj on Wednesday 12th December 19:53

DonkeyApple

54,921 posts

168 months

Wednesday 12th December 2012
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Looking good.

Sadly, I just don't think there is any real value in an Overfinch Disco in contrast to a RRC or Defender.

I suspect that by putting the Overfinch kit into a Defender you will be building something more valuable.

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Wednesday 12th December 2012
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DonkeyApple said:
Looking good.

Sadly, I just don't think there is any real value in an Overfinch Disco in contrast to a RRC or Defender.

I suspect that by putting the Overfinch kit into a Defender you will be building something more valuable.
Hoping so Brother

Have you decided on an engine/transmission combo for the 2-door yet?

DonkeyApple

54,921 posts

168 months

Wednesday 12th December 2012
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vjj said:
DonkeyApple said:
Looking good.

Sadly, I just don't think there is any real value in an Overfinch Disco in contrast to a RRC or Defender.

I suspect that by putting the Overfinch kit into a Defender you will be building something more valuable.
Hoping so Brother

Have you decided on an engine/transmission combo for the 2-door yet?
I have. biggrin

It's going to be subtly different from anything that has been done before.

I've nearly completed the build spec and am aiming to put it out to tender in Spring to the firms which I believe are capable of doing the work.

Trommel

18,981 posts

258 months

Wednesday 12th December 2012
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vjj said:
The 2nd-last Genuine Overfinch Disco is no more - that means Damon Orloff has the last one known about.
There are/were more than you think (in fact there was a 5 litre on eBay the other week).

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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Trommel said:
vjj said:
The 2nd-last Genuine Overfinch Disco is no more - that means Damon Orloff has the last one known about.
There are/were more than you think (in fact there was a 5 litre on eBay the other week).
Are you sure it was a discovery? I saw a 5 litre Range Rover on there for 18 grand.

If it was a disco then that would be great news but a little bird from Overfinch who had been there from the Schuler days in 1985 told me that 'only a handful' of discos were done, some of which were LHD and went overseas.

TimCrighton

996 posts

215 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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Sounds like your finished truck will be very similar to mine...

Keswick green 90 on galvanised chassis and unpainted galvanised bulkhead, on anthracite (with cut lip) boost wheels, currently running td5 with various mods. I also own a V8 which is intended for it one day but I need to think about running gear.

Trommel

18,981 posts

258 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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vjj said:
Are you sure it was a discovery? I saw a 5 litre Range Rover on there for 18 grand.

If it was a disco then that would be great news but a little bird from Overfinch who had been there from the Schuler days in 1985 told me that 'only a handful' of discos were done, some of which were LHD and went overseas.
Yes, you can still find it in "Completed Listings". Recently there's also been the blue Graeme Hunt one. They do exist.

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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the blue Graham Hunt one is Damon Orloff's car - the one in completed listings is my car

Trommel

18,981 posts

258 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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vjj said:
the one in completed listings is my car
Not unless you only bought it three weeks ago.

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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Trommel said:
vjj said:
the one in completed listings is my car
Not unless you only bought it three weeks ago.
I looked for it - can you post the link?

What colour was it - there was a Rioja red one that was around a few years ago and is now unaccounted for(see earlier in this post)

The silver one is dead and the black one is in Australia.

I have a setting on ebay for alerts whenever Overfinch is mentioned so I don't know why it wasn't picked up.

If it was a 5 litre it could have been a Litchfield(collaboration between Lord Litchfield, TVR Power and TMS in Melton Mowbray I believe - one of the mums at school has one)

Defender colin

2 posts

135 months

Thursday 13th December 2012
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Easy on the throttle Derek

vjj

Original Poster:

592 posts

238 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
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Hi Guys

UPDATE

My brilliant engineer Derek(for that is what he be) promised me a rolling chassis by Christmas and he has been as good as his word





Went over there this morning with the wife to have a look and thank him for all his hard work.

I have Terrafirma suspension with 1-inch drop and uprated springs using standard-height turrets.

Thanks to Andrew at Maverick 4x4 for quick delivery

still got to put on up-rated anti-roll bars from Overfinch disco chassis - the overfinch suspension was tired so went with new.

same for the brakes - put new vented discs on front and solid on rear

Bulkhead and brake lines will be going on next and re-wire will commence.

Happy Christmas to one and all - will update in early Jan.

Edited by vjj on Saturday 22 December 13:51